Ultimate Costa Rica Eco Tour for the Eco-Friendly

The La Paz Waterfall Gardens will neatly break up your drive to Arenal this morning. You can choose from a variety of hiking trails and spend as long as you like with all the wildlife. Arenal will take centerstage when you arrive at your lodge. Instead of staying in La Fortuna, which is Costa Rica’s most popular destination, you will be spending two nights at a charming lodge along the volcano’s less popular, northern face. Here, you will be surrounded by pure tranquility. Hiking trails begin at your lodge, and you can walk along these without a guide if you wish. Guides are available at your lodge if you are interested in a more adventurous afternoon hike. Along the way, you will come across natural hot springs that provide a space to soothe your body and mind.

The Arenal area is a haven for adventure, and you will have a choice of eco-activities today. Rivers rush past the old lava slopes and disappear beneath the tree line, and you can spend an afternoon white-water rafting. Arenal offers dozens of hikes, and there will be something for every level of energy and fitness. Some of these hikes are really tough, leading you into the clouds and onto rugged and rocky trails. You can also indulge in mountain biking in the area on trails that are a little rough but plenty of fun. There is also ziplining and a whole series of activities in which you can participate in a nearby forest. All these choices have a sustainable approach to tourism and maintain the ecology of the local region.

This morning, you will drive to a small Maleku community. Locals will show you some of their modern farming methods, which are styles of farming that contrast with their tradition and old-world way of dress. After wandering around the village and taking a peek into how the Maleku live, you will be treated to a dance performance. The dance will be followed by lunch, and the food will be different from what you will have tried earlier on your tour. From the village, you will journey north, where the road will weave across green space and up to Monteverde. Your lodge will be nestled inside the forest and has its own gardens that are home to rare plants. After visiting a village, you may probably want to spend the rest of the day relaxing at your lodge.

Lush colors will dominate as you indulge in a journey through the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Some sections of the walk will provide you with an open canopy view as you gaze across the treetops and listen to birds that tweet from below. It is best to have a full day in Monteverde. It is also preferable to be in the forest reserve early in the morning, so you can explore at the most mystical time and before most day-tripping visitors arrive. You can spend the afternoon exploring the reserve’s less-accessible trails. These can lead you to small research stations, where you can silently observe birds, including the famous quetzal.

This morning, you will fly to Manuel Antonio National Park, which is a place of white beaches and forested mountains. This is Costa Rica’s smallest national park, but it contains more biodiversity than any of the others, including an incredible array of mammals. After your flight, you will transfer to a lodge that is tucked into the rainforest and overlooks the Pacific. This afternoon will be fully customizable, and you can plan activities based on your interests. You can explore the rainforest on hiking trails, including walking up to lookout points and searching for the different monkeys.

The rainforest is magnificent just after dawn. Wildlife is active in these cooler morning hours, so it is the best time to be walking in the national park. After spending a full morning with Costa Rica’s wildlife, the remainder of the day will provide you with some time to rest and reflect on your eco-tour. It will be easy and quick to wander down to the beach, where thick forest casts a welcome shadow across the sand. You may want to continue your wildlife encounters, either in the forest or on the water, and this can be arranged if you feel the urge to keep exploring.

After a relaxed morning on the coast, you will travel by road back to San Jose for your flight out of Juan Santamaria International Airport.